Eighteen years have passed since our wedding, and that's exactly how many years our excellent Samsung refrigerator has been [and thanks to good father Meir]. Even after all these long years, the refrigerator works great, but it seemed like it was time to replace it.<\/p>\r\n
And what do we do with the old one?<\/p>\r\n
Giving to those in need is a mitzvah that also gives a good feeling - we didn't throw it or the used clothes in the trash - and is also not devoid of hidden arrogance, apparently.<\/p>\r\n
Anyway, we placed a 6-word ad in the local paper stating that the refrigerator was in good working order and was available for delivery.<\/p>\r\n
The flood of phone calls that hit us was hard to predict.<\/p>\r\n
Dozens of people called and asked if the refrigerator was still relevant, and if it was possible to come pick it up.<\/p>\r\n
What does this say about our city? It's a city where there are a lot of people who need a refrigerator. Not particularly good news.<\/p>\r\n
When I told a friend about it, he said: 'I did exactly that. My washing machine was stuttering for five months. I religiously followed the news every week. As soon as it was announced that there was a machine for delivery, I called immediately and managed to pick it up on time.'.<\/p>\r\n
\u2022<\/p>\r\n
The refrigerator was delivered to the lucky winner, but that's not what I came to tell you about, but about people's reactions.<\/p>\r\n
Some asked if the refrigerator had been delivered, and when I answered, which became a laconic-ritual for me, because I'm sorry, but it's already been taken, they also responded politely, said thank you, and said goodbye.<\/p>\r\n
But there were also other calls that went something like this:<\/p>\r\n
- Regarding the refrigerator you posted...<\/p>\r\n
- Oh, I'm sorry but it's already taken...<\/p>\r\n
- Disconnect. Boom.<\/p>\r\n
At first, I was hurt to the core. Here I am, an altruist, a good person, a positive person who reciprocates favors with others, offering my refrigerator to anyone interested, and they not only don't thank me for it, they even hang up on me? What about a thank you for wanting to, a congratulations for being willing, or even a goodbye? Forget goodbye, an exclamation of disappointment like 'too bad I didn't have time', or 'when did they take it' - something that would have caused a kind of shared sharing of feelings, even if only momentarily, between us, would have been nice.<\/p>\r\n
But then I understood. Some of the people who called me to get the refrigerator were playing a game whose rules were almost written in advance.<\/p>\r\n
My family and I, members of the upper class, purchase a new refrigerator without batting an eyelid, and in our kindness offer the unfortunate the old machine. After all, it is only natural that we will not throw the old refrigerator in the trash, but rather donate it to the poor who are not as fortunate as we are.<\/p>\r\n
And these? They act exactly according to the rules.<\/p>\r\n
They diligently follow the "delivery" ads, call, try to get the refrigerator, and are well aware that the chances of getting it are not great. Someone must have beaten them to it. They tell themselves from the experience of dozens of calls.<\/p>\r\n
For these, there is no time to say hello, thank them, or share their personal feelings. They return to the game and are already busy with the next ad that offered 'Mixer for immediate delivery in excellent condition, but the thermostat needs a minor repair.'.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"After eighteen years, we decided to purchase a refrigerator and donate the old one to those in need. \u2022 There's nothing better than that, right? Eliezer Heun on a formative experience from long conversations about an old refrigerator","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[138],"tags":[5157,25968,25969,25967,25970],"class_list":["post-426855","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-138","tag-5157","tag-25968","tag-25969","tag-25967","tag-25970"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n